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Crime & Safety

A Look Back: East Meadow FD Battles Blizzard

It took all hands on deck to respond to all calls.

The last blast of wintry weather forecast for 2010 came in the form of a memorable blizzard of snow over our community, with drifts in blizzard conditions reaching depths of more than two feet.

As the storm approached, the Chief of the , Thomas Tergesen, took no chances, covering all bases to afford our community  a prompt response to any emergency.

By 2 p.m. Sunday, the pagers of all East Meadow volunteers had gone off, announcing a snow standby for all available East Meadow firefighters and medical technicians. Through Dispatch, Tergesen instructed members to make all last minute preparations to depart from their families.

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By 3 p.m., scores of members began arriving with blankets, pillows and sleeping bags long before roads would become impassable. In short time, members would be tested in the elements as the first of nine calls began to come in.

The overnight was far from quiet; the East Meadow volunteers awoke several times during standby at the height of blizzard conditions in frigid temperatures worsened by extreme wind chills near zero degrees.

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Incidents Responded To

At 8:13 p.m., the first of the challenges came in the form of a car fire on Hempstead Turnpike near Home Depot. The fire, confined to the rear interior of the vehicle, was quickly extinguished by members of Engine 611, with help from Heavy Rescue 616.

At 12:04 a.m. on Monday, Engines 1, 4, Ladders 1, 2 and ambulance 6144 were dispatched to a Smoke in the Building call at 2138 Hempstead Tpke.

 At 12:22 a.m., just as units were freed from this minor incident, EMFD Dispatch announced a call for smoke in a house on Merry Lane. This call resulted in an oil burner emergency quickly contained by the prompt response of Engines 611, 614, Ladders 617, 619, Heavy Rescue 616 and Ambulance 6144.

 At 1:21 a.m. Dispatch announced a transformer fire on Vincent Drive which resulted in wires down. Engine 611 and Heavy Rescue 616 handled this alarm without further incident.  

At 6:20 a.m. reports of a car fire on Division Avenue called upon Engines 2, 4 and Ladder 619.

At 10:33 a.m. Ambulance 6144 handled an ambulance call on Prince Lane with the help of Engine 614. By 11:02 a.m., calls came in reporting a car fire on South Cabot Lane. Upon arrival, units found a heavily involved vehicle fire, which was quickly resolved by first due Engine 614 and Ladder 619, with backup from Engine 612.

At 1:12 p.m. Ambulance 615 handled a rescue call on Byrd Drive. To ensure safe and unimpeded response of ambulances, an engine company also responded to these calls in the event an ambulance got stuck in the snow, and also to assist in clearing sidewalks to remove a patient.

Tergesen was assisted throughout the storm's duration by his Assistant Chiefs Carl Pugliese, Nicholas Corrado and Walter Griffin. In all, approximately 75 of East Meadow's bravest left their homes to protect their neighbors for more than 24 hours until it was deemed that roadways were passable. No injuries were reported.

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